i.materialise Offers Time-Saving New Multiple File Upload Option

As if popular Belgium-based 3D printing service i.materialise doesn’t work hard enough to make our lives easier already, what with their newly launched Help Center to answer all our 3D printing questions, their plugin for users of the Onshape CAD platform, and their various helpful tutorials, now they’ve made it even easier. Just yesterday on their blog, they have announced that i.materialise users who are logged in to the system can now upload multiple files at once, instead of only having to upload and edit one at a time. The benefits of this major time-saver are plenty!

Gone are the days of slowly uploading one file after another after another. On the i.materialise new Multiple File Upload page, you can just drag and drop up to 20 files to the website in one fell swoop! Your files will be uploaded at the same time to a structured, easy-to-use overview page. Maximum file size is 100MB, and it supports multiple file formats, including STL, OBJ, MGX, and many others. Some file formats, such as VRML, SKP, and X3D, are able to include textures in the file, while others keep the texture in a different image-file (PNG, JPG, or GIF) and map-file (OBJ). For formats that don’t include texture in the same file, make sure you group all files related to the model together, and upload that way.

The uploaded files will all be displayed on a single-page overview screen, so you can easily manage your models. You’ll be able to edit the material, finish, size, and quantity of prints you’d like to order for each model you’ve uploaded. This is pretty handy, too: the price for the individual design, and the total price for all the models, will be immediately updated.

You can also apply your material selection to all of your models with one quick click of the mouse. So for example, let’s say you want to design and 3D print some pigs for your young son or daughter, so that you when you play “This little piggy goes to market…” you will have some visual aids other than their adorable toes. You can apply the material (maybe some High Detail Resin or Multicolor) and the finish and color of your choice to all other uploaded models by clicking on “apply to all” near the bottom. Voila, five identical little pink piggies with the touch of a button!

But let’s say you don’t want five identical little pink piggies. Maybe you have two kids and need a set of five pigs for each child, or you want the pigs to be printed in a rainbow of different colors. They’re your pigs, it’s totally up to you. Another great feature of the i.materialise Multiple File Upload page is the ‘duplicate’ button. By clicking this, you can create an instant, exact copy of your existing upload model. This is obviously an ideal choice if you want to order the same design, but in different materials, finishes, or sizes. Since i.materialise offers 20 different materials, ranging from polyamide to titanium to wood, and over 100 possible color and finish combinations, the sky is truly the limit.

Ready to test out these new features? Just log into your i.materialise account (or sign up if you don’t already have a login), select the option to ‘Upload Multiple Files,’ and get busy creating! Discuss in the i.materialise forum at 3DPB.com.